My family has back out on helping me they have heard nightmare stories from people who said you need 24 hour help for a month can't get out of the bed for a month without help is this true that's not my Doc said I'm healthy and only 56
BS. I was only in bed to sleep. You use a walker to get to and from the bathroom, take showers on your own, if Dr allows, I went to and from dining room table to eat meals with my husband - he cooked. All you need someone there for us to get your meds to you on time, make meals, do laundry and basically make sure you are safe. If you fell right afterwards, it was be bad. Your family should step up!!
Shelly,
Please DON'T cancel based upon stories that could be farther from the truth!!
You do not need 24 hour care for a day, a week or a month! Yes in the hospital you will have 24 hour care -way for a few days. You will be able to take care of yourself. After spending some time at my mom's(my choice) I came home. I live alone and have been taking care of me ever since.
Does it sucks sometimes- absolutely but I can get around. Six weeks out and I'm not doing well, at first it was thought I had an infection, then not and now the PA at my pain mgmt doctor thinks I do. My point is that I feel like crap, can get around with a walker, cook when I feel like it and even walk my dog.
Please tell your family not to believe everything they hear. People embellish, exaggerate or just plain out lie . The web is full of horror stories with no way to validate.
Hang in there, you will be fine! Good luck to you.
Shelly, this was not true for me. I have RA and other things wrong with me and I was getting out of bed by myself from the time I had the surgery. It's hard but you really don't need 24 hr care. Although, I did have someone to cook for me. You will need help but you can move around. I was even able to shower after a week by myself. You just have to be careful. Good luck!
Everybody is different... I am now 10 days post op of TKR.. I have been able to get out of bed and shower and eat etc since first day... But I did have a big problem with pain meds that set me back doing my exercises etc. That was finally rectified yesterday. You will need help most of your first week but mostly for little things... Because of my pain med mix up I ended up with a few more problems I needed help with but I see that being rare. Already the pain I am feeling now is healing pain not the same pain as before surgery. Do this for YOU!
No, that is not true. I certainly did need my husband around for the first couple of days when I came out of hospital. I came home four days after surgery. Then it was weekend, so he was there anyway. He took two days off work the following week. . Then he was back at work, and I arranged for a friend to visit in the afternoon for the following two days of the week. While I was quite limited, and didn't manage to get dressed and up until the middle of the day for a few weeks, it was fine. So tired ... but it is quite good to need to do things for yourself after the initial week.
I know they just don't want to help me that's fine I can make it on my own
I truly agree; you do need some help but not 24 hrs. The pain I was and still in is so much better after the surgery. It was well worth it. The healing process is slow but so worth it. Please don't let your family discourage you. If you have eat foods that you don't have to cook then do this. You will only need help for a couple of weeks and then you want need help getting in and out of bed. Remember this pain will eventually go away but without surgery you will continually be in pain.
Yes they don't want to help what can I do
I won't have any help now maybe my Daughter its fine with me
I have everything ready just gonna do it by myself
Maybe a friend can come check on you?
Yes yes I will I don't need them
thanks
That is not true and if it was true your family should be ashame of themselves
I'm 4 weeks and can walk on my own without aid. Although if I'm going far I use my sticks. Everyone is different and if your strong willed you can do it on your own but as someone else says I don't think it's fair of your parents not wanting to help. You will need a little help first week or so out of hospital. Even if it's a friend popping in from time to time.
Stay strong you can do it
No, it's not true. We've got a whole bunch of people on the Forum who do this alone. The first trick is to prepare your home. Make it safe. Get a commode so you don't have to climb stairs to get to the bathroom. Have someone stop by every few days to help clean-up and see how you're doing. Prepare meals in advance. Have lots of water nearby.
Most of all, do NOT lie around in pain all the time. Have things to do to take your mind off the pain. The meds will help but your mind makes you stronger. Read...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-strong-594566
You will find out that you are stronger than you ever knew you were. And we're all here to help. If you ever feel down, remember...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-and-ptsd-569521
There is no fear, there is no canceling. You're better than that...you're stronger than that. It's a challenge, that's for sure, but a year from now you'll look back and realize that you've become a better person for it. We don't give up around here...we get through it...we get stronger.
I don't want to cancel but with no help at all I'm not sure but might try it on my own I have my food and WAter ready my bathroom setup
Thanks for everyone help
Good luck Shelly there's always people on here